What is the best way to take turns?

crossword · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Hi everyone
I just joined this forum and this is my first post here.

I apologize if my question sounds too basic and newbie for this forum. I''m a beginner and have taken 10 driving lessons so far and have 10 more to go

I live in India and we all learn on manual transmission even if we graduate to automatic after that. We have right hand drive here and we keep to the left of the road.

I''ve been reading instructions on the net about how to drive a stick shift car. I''ve downloaded various articles. Some of what they say is contrary to what my instructor says but then I note that some of the articles contradict each other too. I always thought there was only one way to drive a car but have realized people have different opinions on how it should be done.

I would like to know what the best way to make a turn is. My father says he downshifts to first gear before making a turn and that is how it is to be done because traffic in India is heavy and fast and one should take turns slowly.

Now my instructor says one should never use first gear for anything except when you start the car. I have read some articles on the net corroborating that and saying first gear is basically too slow for anything except for when you start in neutral and have to shift up.

My instructor says its ok to make turns in 2nd or 3rd gear, depending on how much traffic there is and how fast you can take the turn. He says you can take left turns in 3rd gear but generally have to use 2nd for right. That is because we keep to the left here and in western countries you would have to do it the other way round – lower gear for left turns since they keep to the right there.

The way he has taught me is: when you approach a turn, first give the signal for whether you are turning left or right.

Then brake gently to slow down the vehicle. At the same time also press the clutch pedal to the floor and shift to a lower gear IF NECESSARY. He says it’s ok to even change gears as you are actually turning if by chance you have to do it quickly and you left it too late.

Now I have read on the net one should never shift gears while in the middle of executing a turn.

And my father says you always have to push the clutch down anyway in order to let the car maintain enough speed to negotiate the turn, otherwise just braking on its own might make the car stop and then you’d have to restart it.

Anyway I would like to know which is the best way to make a turn, the way that is safest and causes the least wear and tear on the car. Can you tell me the steps you take, in order?

I have read it’s more expensive to replace the clutch than the brake, so if you’re going to overuse something, it had better be the brake rather than the clutch.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Gareth · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 1113 Location: Berkshire

Hi crossword and welcome,

crossword · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks so much for your detailed and informative answer, Gareth.

Would you mind telling me: do you always or usually press the clutch pedal before braking?

Here, we often have to slow down or sometimes even stop the car in mid-road to avoid cows or other animals that may be crossing the street. Or pedestrians since traffic lights haven’t been invented yet in India. Well, they’re there at major crossroads but no one obeys them unless a policeman is manning the roads and directing traffic.

So since we don’t have traffic lights at most places, people have to cross roads by negotiating breaks in traffic. Except they don’t all wait for breaks and most people except the super-cautious like me just weave in and out of traffic. So basically we never know when someone might come in our path as we’re driving.

So I have to slow down pretty frequently on the roads to avoid people and animals. My question is, should I simply brake slightly or should I press the clutch pedal before braking?

Gareth · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 1113 Location: Berkshire

crossword · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks a lot again, Gareth. I suppose your foot is not pressing the brake while you are actually turning?

I see one has to sometimes depress the clutch [without actually changing gears I assume] to avoid stalling the engine, but how does that work? I mean, do you press the clutch before you brake or during braking or after you brake? And when do you then release it? Thanks!

ROG · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 955 Location: LEICESTER

Depressing the clutch takes the 'drive' off the wheels so you have less engine braking to help you slow down

When to depress the clutch? - when you 'feel' the engine starting to stall.

How to practise this? - find empty road or off road place and get up to say 40 in gear 5 - stay in gear 5 - press brake pedal but just poise foot over clutch - when you feel the 'juddery' bit, depress clutch slightly and then a bit more as needed - you will only have the clutch fully depressed just before coming to a full stop.
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ROG
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